GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Dan DeVos, the Grand Rapids Griffins president, CEO and co-owner of the team, has waited since 1996 for the franchise’s first championship.

They’re in a good position now.

“There’s nothing like being in the finals,” he said with a laugh Tuesday.

DeVos wouldn’t make a prediction against Syracuse in the Calder Cup Finals, but said, “We are not planning on going back” to Syracuse for games 6 and 7.

“Yes, I think our team can go all the way,” he said. “We knew going in it was going to be very, very tough, but I know our team now seems to be peaking at the right time and I’m confident that they can pull us through and win a couple more games.”

The Griffins were successful in Syracuse last weekend, winning the opening two games, 3-1 and 6-4, giving hope for DeVos’ first title since leading the way for the arrival of the franchise in 1996 as a member of the IHL.

The closest he and the Griffins have come was in 2000 when the team lost in the finals of the Turner Cup to Chicago in six games.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people associated from the league in owners, past owners,” he said, “and it’s been great to hear from them and offering their support.”

DeVos, also a member of the AHL’s executive committee and part owner of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, was the IHL’s executive of the year in 1997 and served as the league’s chairman of the board during its final two seasons. He is co-owner with David Van Andel.

DeVos stays close to the games, attending “a little more” than half of the home games, and knows about the team since his teenage son, Cole, plays hockey, has interned with the Griffins and “is a hockey nut.”

“He just loves it,” he said.

DeVos said he is pleased with the franchise, especially with the affiliation agreement with the Red Wings and its stable relationship with the AHL.

“That and the excitement around hockey lately have been tremendous,” he said. “We’re certainly in a good place right now from a business model.”

If the Griffins do have to return to Syracuse – for games 6 and 7 scheduled for June 18, 20 - he said he would look into a way for the team to fly. The team drove 12 hours on two buses to get there and back. They drove through the night after Sunday’s game, arriving back in Grand Rapids shortly after 8 a.m.

“Clearly that is an expense issue,” he said, “and this league is not set up to be flying all over the place, and this is at the outer limits of driving, but we would certainly look into that.”

The Griffins are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and have seen attendance increase each of the past four years. They were fourth in the AHL during the regular season at 7,681.

“We’re very pleased,” he said. “We’re near the top of attendance and the fans have been great. Our relationship with the business community is solid, our sponsors have been supportive and their relationship with the arena is good, so all around we’re very, very pleased.”